Deadly Promises by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, Laura Griffin, Cindy Gerard Page B

the offense for a mission.
    “Yes, and I can explain, but not right now,” Jeremy admitted softly.
    CeCe’s throat muscles moved when she swallowed. Her bottom lip trembled until she clenched her jaw. “I moved here to get away from a life built on lies. And for your information the DeMitri men are good citizens, changing things in the organization—”
    “That’s enough, CeCe,” Vinny interjected.
    She nodded and glanced back up at Jeremy. “How can you expect me to understand any of this if you can’t tell me the truth now? I didn’t want to be around cr—” She stopped short before the next word came rolling out.
    “Criminals,” Jeremy finished for her. “I did my time and continue to pay my dues every day. You believe the men in your family are decent upstanding citizens but not me?”
    “I’m not saying that…”
    “But you’re leaving… me.”
    “I don’t want to live around… someone who can’t tell me the truth.” She lowered her eyes to her hands, unable to take any more of his tortured gaze.
    “I never lied to you.” Technically. He’d withheld some things, but he’d intended to explain more to her once he figured out how to do it and not expose BAD.
    “Keeping something important from me is lying by omission.”
    “I can make the same accusation.”
    She nodded. “For what it’s worth, I planned to explain everything… if…”
    “If we stayed together.” Jeremy checked to see that Vinny was still ten feet back then lowered his voice so that only CeCe heard his words. “You’re right. I did keep something from you just like you kept things from me. But the difference is that I understand why you did and am willing to give you a chance to explain.”
    When she sucked her bottom lip in and didn’t answer he took a fist to the heart. “I did withhold some things, but I need you to know one very important detail. I care about you, CeCe, and would never involve you in anything criminal or let anyone hurt you. I can explain everything on my record but, like I said, not right now.”
    Silence spun between them with a swirling wind that tossed her hair back and forth around her delicate shoulders.
    He held his breath, begging for a break. Just once.
    Tears clung to her eyelashes but not a one fell. “It’s probably best that we don’t speak again.”
    Her dismissal smashed that flickering hope he’d been clinging to. Hurt clawed up his chest and churned into anger, but he wouldn’t unleash that on CeCe. He could never hurt her.
    And she was still at risk until he figured out what was going on with Dorvan and Starface. Jeremy shoved his emotions into that dark hole they should have stayed in and dropped his professional mask into place.
    “What do you know about the photo card the FBI is looking for?” he asked.
    “Nothing.”
    He glanced over her shoulder at Vinny. CeCe followed his gaze then snapped her head back to face Jeremy.
    She lifted her clenched fists and her chin, ready for battle. “My family is not involved in this. Vinny told me so.”
    What Jeremy wouldn’t give for a woman who would stand up as confidently in support of him. He placed his hands gently over hers and said, “I believe you.”
    All the bluster dissipated at his easy acceptance. She opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but her brother’s patience had expired.
    “Let’s go, CeCe.” Vinny walked up and gently took her arm, tossing a brotherly warning glare at Jeremy.
    CeCe glanced over her shoulder at Jeremy, telling him with one look how disappointed she was… in him. He couldn’t get a word past the lump in his throat so he said nothing as she moved away with Vinny.
    “Ready to go, J?” Blade strolled up.
    “Sure.” Jeremy swung around and followed Blade, sorting through all the facts and the unknown as he walked. He wanted to figure out what was going on with the feds before he left town to rejoin BAD. Blade might be able to help. “You know anything about a guy